Last week, Burkina Faso faced its second coup this year after rival officers ousted military ruler President Paul-Henri Damiba. It’s in the wake of spiralling Islamic extremism that’s having a devastating impact on the country’s Christian population.
“Islamist extremists are waging an insurgency to establish a Caliphate, an Islamic State ruled by Islamic law or Sharia. Thus, non-Muslims are their prime target,” explains Illia Djadi, Open Doors’ analyst for sub-Saharan Africa. “When there is chaos and disorder, they flourish and further their aims. And that is what is happening now with the current unrest.
“In northern Burkina, there is no Christian presence, with most of the churches in the region destroyed or closed down, and their members forced to flee. A similar scenario is taking place in the east now. Christians represent nearly a quarter of the population, and they are slowly being uprooted as radical Islam attempts to take over.
“There is no room for Christians in the extremists’ dreamed-of Caliphate. Christians are deeply concerned, and we should be too. An Islamist takeover is terrible news for all of Africa and beyond.”
Pray For Burkina Faso:
- Pray for political stability and that security forces will effectively counter growing extremism
- Pray that Christians will be kept safe from harm and have all their needs met
- Pray that God will use the church during this crisis to draw others to Jesus
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
